ELSBERRY: Evanovich lifting his game for Stags

Published 9:04 pm, Tuesday, January 19, 2010

BRIDGEPORT -- These days, Mike Evanovich looks at the calendar and sees that there aren't a lot of days left in his basketball life. He is halfway through his senior season and every day that he crosses off means he's another day closer to the end. Closer to the end of a career that at best, could be described as inconsistent, or better yet, incomplete.

His resume was simple: good outside shooter. That was it. Everything else was well ¦ inconsistent. Rebounding. Defense. Passing. There were occasional flashes but never anything substantial or consistent. But that was the old Mike Evanovich. The new one is a lot different.

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He's still a good outside shooter but it's the other parts of his game are starting to come into focus. Evanovich is rebounding more, passing better and playing a more aggressive defense than he ever has. He knows this is his last go-round. It's time to be a senior.

Evanovich gave Fairfield 11 big points Monday in a 76-74 nailbiter over Canisius at the Arena. There were also two steals, two rebounds and an assist in 24 minutes. And it was his big 3-pointer from the in front of the Stags' bench that gave Fairfield its first lead of the game, 61-58 with 8:20 left.

"Game ball goes to Mike ¦ in a lot of different ways," Fairfield coach Ed Cooley said. "His senior leadership. We've been seeing it. We've been talking about it. I applaud his efforts because Mike's got a lot of pride on defense and what he's done in practice the last three or four weeks hasn't gone unnoticed by any of the coaches. Just a proud moment for me for Michael to see that growth in him."

His role has been spelled out by Cooley for a while now: Shoot when you're open, rebound, pass and defend as best you can. But he admittedly didn't work as hard as he should have in trying to be the best in that role. Until he looked at the calendar this fall and realized his playing days were numbered.

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"Each game it gets a little closer to the end and I'm starting to realize it more and more," Evanovich said. "I'm working harder in practice. This is the most I've done in my career, the harder I've worked. I'm glad it's starting to show. I need to put it together if this is going to be the season I want it to be. It's on me and I'm trying to take that load and do everything I can."

He has put together three double figure games in his last four and he's really been feeling the shooter's touch of late, making nine of his last 13 3-pointers. But that's not where he starred on this day; it was doing all those other things.

"Mike played huge today," said Yorel Hawkins, who chanted `MVP ¦ MVP' to Evanovich as they walked into the postgame press conference. "He was hitting big shots. I don't even think it was his offense that he got the MVP for because on defense he was telling us where to go, talking on D, rebounding the ball. He was doing everything tonight."

He spent the summer working harder than he ever had before. Evanovich dropped 10 pounds getting down to 210, which has allowed him to run the floor better. Despite missing some time over the summer with an Achilles strain, he had pushed himself -- for the first time in his career -- to get better.

The results over the past few weeks speak for themselves.

"I forced myself to do it," he said. "I've always known it but I never forced myself to do it. It's my senior year and it's all coming down to the end. The better shape I'm in the better player I am."

And that translates into a more increased role on the floor in games and in practice. Something that Cooley has waited a long time to see.

"I told him the other day just how proud I am seeing him work and he's becoming the player we thought," Evanovich said. "As much as I love Mike, he's not out there for his unbelievable speed. I love him to death, but he's not earning his scholarship by being the fastest guy on the floor. He's earning it by doing exactly what he's doing, giving us leadership and making shots."

Understanding his role.

"Coach has always told me what my role is and I'm doing better at it right now than I've ever done so I just have to keep doing it," he said. "I'm glad it's turned around and just trying to help us get some wins."